The Black Wren (PDF Only)

This listing is for a copy of the digital PDF only.

The Black Wren is a GM-less, dice-less and even character-less RPG in which you play natural or social elements of a rural setting just before it is transformed by The Knell.  

It's a descriptive game in an impressionist way. You will need 3 to 5 players in order to play this game, for a session of about 2 hours. You'll enjoy this game if you like nature and poetry.

During the course of the game, you'll embody a natural or social part of the environment called "an element". This element could be material or immaterial. It can represent a community or a spce. Examples include:

• the dark forest
• domestic animals
• the fear of the inhabitants
• the outside world

The game unfolds in scenes. During each scene, you'll play in the passive voice, giving descriptions that respond to each other. You'll be encouraged to build up on what others said to form a coherent narrative. When a scene ends, it marks the arrival of the Knell, a major transformation of the elements!

This game is inspired by the atmosphere of Jean Giono's book A King Alone, the themes of The Man Who Spoke Snakish from Andrus Kivirähk and the aesthetics of the music from french folk band : Malicorne. 

What's inside this zine?

The zine features a complete game system plus everything you need to play your own game within its pages.

• A diceless, GM-less rules system: players collectively create a common story. There's no luck, only the choices you make.
• Many examples of the game mechanic 
• An innovative speaking system. 
• A presentation of the tools used in the game and instructions on how to make them.

Written by Milouch with art by Nijelle and Milouch

This is the English version that was translated by Côme Martin.